Friday, August 30, 2013

Affluent people in the society will now be subjected
to special banking services, thanks to the introduction of Private Banking suite
Facility by the National Bank of Commerce ( NBC). The suite will enable NBC
affluent customers to access a range of products and services designed to meet
their individual requirements and benefit from easier access to credit
facilities offered by the bank. Under this service customers will be required
to have a minimum of Sh75 million in the bank account. The NBC has opened a
special centre in Dar es Salaam yesterday for that purpose. Gracing the occasion
for the introduction of a newly bank service, the IPP Executive Chairman Dr
Reginald Mengi said the move will help cater for the country’s growing economy.
However, he thanked the bank for the step it has taken as this shows that, the
bank has reached at the top higher level of performance in the country bearing
the fact that, being a financial institution it plays a key role in
facilitating country’s economy. He said as the number of people who require
financial services in the country keeps on increasing everyday and this is made
evident by the increasing number of registered banks in the country, it’s
therefore prudent for banks also to think of ways to expound their services to
cater for their regular needs. At this remark, Dr.Mengi praised the MD and her
entire management team for the ability which has made the NBC to come at this
surprise that it has enabled it to launch such a vital service at the opportune
time when the country’s economy is growing at such an exceptional rate. Commenting
on the launch of the bank’s Private Banking Suite. Mengi said, “The need for
tailor made services is very important and added that, this is underscored by
the fact that organizations which succeed are usually those which adopt to the
constantly changing market dynamics by providing solutions for their
customers”.

Speaking on behalf of the bank, NBC’s Managing Director Ms. Mizinga
Melu said, “since NBC has been in operation for the last 46 years the bank has
been receiving new customers and hence there is a need to cope with the
emerging global technological change. In view of this, therefore the bank has
to look for specific requirements which have to be taken into consideration for
the development of emerging technologies to suite new products and services. It
is for this reason, however she added that, the bank has decided to introduce
Private Banking Suite to cater for financial requirements to help achieve their
ambitions and also create ways for convenience for customers by building an
environment where they can realize their ambitions with ease. She said that,
the centre is the first to be launched by the bank in the country, and noted
that seven other centers would be replicated later in other cities and big towns
in the country by end of 2014. Cornered for an exclusive interview, the Head of
Bank’s retail services Mmoloki Legodu said that, with this launch the bank aim
to service the diverse financial needs of their customers including their
families with exclusivity. However, he said and added that, customers will be
able to enjoy the attention of a dedicated relationship manager and use of this
State-of-the –art exclusive facility centre to meet all the banking needs, and
moreover will not need to stand in queue. Describing the suitability of the
service, the Bank’s Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs Edwin Mhina
said that, customers under this category of service would use their Automated
Teller Machine (ATM) cards free for every transaction. He further noted that
customers will enjoy a reduction on costs for sending money through telegraphic
transfer to settle payments of imported goods. These he said would be reduced
to a certain percentage rate which he couldn’t immediately indicate. NBC is one
of the most highly recognized retail banks in the country with 46 years
experience in providing financial services. Apart from offering traditional
banking services, NBC also prides itself with an expanded branch network and
footprint. It has 52 branches with over 1,200 staff,Visa and MasterCard enabled ATMs and over 250
points of sales strategically located throughout the country.

As three days have remained prior to the
winding up of a nationwide discussion about the new draft of national
constitution, former lecturer of the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Dr. Azaveli
Lwaitama has called on government to accept people’s views as directed in
relation to the three tire government structure. The issue which has become a
subject of debate in all constitutional council meetings in the country has
sparked fear and mixed perception among Tanzanians most of whom have noticed
that, the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar would come to an end if the
idea would be finally approved in the constitution. Dr.
Lwaitama made a remark early this week in Dar es Salaam at a constitutional
council meeting which was organized by a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
known as Change Tanzania, a forum was held at a British Council hall.Describing
about the issue, the don noted that, the three tire government structure would
limit the President’s power and there is no means whatsoever as this issue is
entirely upon Tanzanians to decide while voting for their opinions.He said that, apart from the
three government system, Tanzanians must know that there are a lot and
more helpful matters to be discussed in the draft constitution
which has come out with sixteen phases, in view of this, has
urged Tanzanians to concentrate on other matters which will help build their economic
and social life in future. The forum was attended by academicians,
human rights activists, lawyers and ordinary people who gathered to discuss the
way forward about the new constitution for which Dr. Lwaitama was among the
three main speakers.

Dr. Azavel;i Lwaitama in public discussion

Others speakers wereDeodatus Balile who is a member of Tanzania
Editors’ Forum (TEF) and the Managing Editor of a weekly investigativeKiswahili tabloid called Jamhuri, andIrenei Kiria who is the Managing Director of
a civil society group known as SIKIKA.Dr. Lwaitama has urged Tanzanians not to
spend more time to discuss much about the three tire government structure and
instead they should concentrate on other basic issues which could bring
revolutionary change of mindset. He
said people must go further and scrutinize their mindset which would bring
about some revolutionary changes for the development of the country in general.However,
he also took time to warn Tanzanians not to make a criticism on whatever has
been outlined in the new draft and instead should talk with evidences tendered
so as to approve their arguments the impact on the three tire government
structure.“People
should also talk of good things put across by Judge Joseph Warioba’s review
commission team and should not criticize anything in the constitution without
proper explanations” he said.He reminded the audience that the essence of demanding for a
new constitution started way back in 1964 after the army mutiny, this was first
amended in 1965 with the purpose of preparing the coming of the policy of Arusha
Declaration which ushered the building of a socialist state.TEF’s
member Balile noted that, the draft constitution did not carry some of the most
important views earlier recommended by the TEF members. He mentioned them as
the formation of the journalists’ council as the current one is not recognized
by the constitution.He clarified a point that, in the draft is not stated directly
that the rights of the people to be informed is not only through media organs,
but people can also be informed through other means so longer as it is their
rights to be informed.

Monday, August 26, 2013

THE Minister for East African Cooperation Samwel Sitta has
dismissed rumors which have spread within the East African Community (EAC) regional
bloc that, Rwanda and Uganda member states are planning to boycott Dar es
Salaam port with effect from September this year. Minister Sitta made
clarification in Dar es Salaam last week in an on the spot interview when
cornered by journalists who attended the swearing in ceremony of the newly appointed
8 Permanent Secretaries and 14 deputies of various ministries at State House
grounds. He told journalists that, his office has not yet received official
documentation as related with the withdrawal of the two EAC landlocked member
countries from using Dar es Salaam port as
earlier speculated, and that are planning to shift to Mombasa port for cargo handling of their
goods. However, he declined to say anything further when questioned to tell the
truth about the details of the current status of the two countries and their
political tension as related with the recent UN report that revealed their
relationships of the M23 rebel groups in Eastern DRC.
On the trade link between Tanzania
and the two countries, Minister Sitta said that, his Ministry has tried a bit
enough to reduce the number of barriers from 43 to currently 15 along main
roads linking the two countries in the country since 2011. However, Minister
Sitta who is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Urambo constituency and former Tanzania’s
National Assembly speaker noted that, many barriers have been noticed to be
disturbing traders while transporting their goods an aspect that results into
high inflation. He has thanked the Minister for Transport Dr. Harrison
Mwakyembe who has played a bigger role to ward off the menace which before that
was contributing to a slow pace towards the achievement of the economic
development of the EAC member countries. He noted that, in order to facilitate
smooth operation of the trade movements within the region, his office has put
in future plans to reduce the barriers and remain with only 3 by 2020. The
occasion of swearing in newly appointed Permanent Secretaries was witnessed by
almost all Ministers of the designated portfolios. Also in attendance were leaders
of the opposition parties in the country, close relatives of the appointees including
other invited government officials. The sworn secretaries have pledged to take
charge of their new positions and work effortlessly in order to ensure the
government’s concept of achieving the big results now.Consolata Mgimba the new deputy permanent secretary
of the ministry of Education and Vocational Training said that, as she is
taking a new ministry, she is prepared to work in collaboration with close
subordinates so as to ensure that, the education sector comes up with good
reputation.

Tanzania's Minister for East African Cooperation, Mr. Samwel Sitta

However, she has pledged to make sure that, she advices her boss in
the office to ward off the on-going controversy over poor educational standards
in the country. She has also pledged to work on the results to be issued by the
recent commission formed by the Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda to investigative
the real cause of this year’s massive failure of the National form four
students. Dorothy Mwanyika of the Finance Ministry has noted to work on the
impending challenges that constraints the development of the entire ministry
and promised to bring changes upon working closely with the stakeholders to
ensure a success. On Tuesday this week, President Jakaya Kikwete announced a
major reshuffle of permanent secretaries, promoting 10 deputies and dropping
three others. The President also moved three permanent secretaries to new
portfolios and tapped Prof Sifuni Mchome from the Tanzania Commission of
Universities as the new Education Permanent Secretary in changes that saw the
Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Patrick
Rutabanzibwa stepping down voluntarily. President Kikwete also picked 14 new
deputy PSs and shuffled five in a decision that saw the return of a suspended
chief medical officer in the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Deodatus
Mtasiwa who now will head the ministry of Local Government Authority and
Regional Administration. Those dropped were Sethi Kamuhanda from the Ministry
of Information, Omar Chambo from Transport and Mrs Kijakazi Mtengwa from
Community Development, Women and Children. Announcing the changes at a news
conference on Tuesday evening at State House in Dar es Salaam, Chief Secretary Ombeni Sefue,
said the three dropped PSs will be re-assigned to other duties but were not
specified.

MEMBERS of a coalition group, the Tanzania Women Constitutional Networking
(TWCN) have analyzed various shortcomings in relation to women’s rights evident
in the new constitutional draft. About 25 women groups with their
representatives from various parts of the country gathered last week in Dar es Salaam in a two
day seminar that aimed to deliberate various matters together with how the new
constitution will help protect women’s rights in the country. The group members
also had time to register their views pertaining to basic rights of women, demanding
epoch making changes in key elements, apparently skipped in the draft for a new
constitution. The seminar organized by the Women Fund of Tanzania (WFT) in
collaboration with the Tanzania Gender Networking Program (TGNP) came up with
some recommendations for consideration in finalizing the process for enacting a
new constitution. One such proposal is that women should hold one of the highest
ranking government positions such as president, vice-president or prime minister,
by placing it in the constitution that it is part of women’s basic rights of
leadership functions. Prof. Ruth Meena of the Dar es Salaam
based Institute
of Diplomacy, who
represented WFT group, said in an interview that gender balance consideration is
non-existent in the selection of high ranking government officials. This aspect
of gender balance should be included in the new constitution so that it opens
an avenue for women capable of holding top most positions to do so, similar to what
is being done in other countries. Women’s rights on breastfeeding after child
birth are not highlighted in the constitutional draft as earlier recommended by
most women groups, she said. As this is a most sensitive issue for child
growth, the constitutional draft should make it clear that employees (women)
who are breast feeding obtain a proper time frame to feed their babies, recommending
that the time frame should be six
months instead of three as it is now, the don underlined. There are no basic gender rights in national
values, which should be introduced to value leadership ethics, she said, noting
that this would lessen discrimination.

Professor Ruth Meena analyzing a point during her presentation.

According to her, women’s rights should
be made clear and with transparency embedded in the manner of implementation,
such that the government’s obligations of protecting women’s rights are raised
to a higher level. A regulatory tasked with following up on women’s complaints
or technical inquiries is needed, to make the legal implementation process
adequate, the don specified. Usu Mallya, executive director for the Tanzania Gender Network
Program (TGNP),said that
concern about women agenda had been raised at all levels so that they are given
rights as deserved. There are still some challenges
that need to be addressed in this quest, she stated.Government
needs to put in place legal and policy arrangements that will
facilitate equal participation of women in top level leadership, she said,
underlining that a democratic constitution must acknowledge substantive gender
equality.It must include collective
voices of both genders, “highlighting shared values and key principles,” she
further asserted.A Gender and Development Seminar Series (GDSS)
bringing together people with disabilities, youths, entrepreneurs, small scale
farmers and marginalized groups is being organized to chart the way forward in
building a gender balanced society, the director noted.Susan
Lyimo, the deputy chairperson of the Tanzania Women Parliamentary Group (TWPG) affirmed
the vital inputs of women in attaining a democratic constitution accepted by
all.Women MPs were delighted with the draft as most issues they
proposed had been taken up but a few issues relating to essential expectations
of women constitutionally, she said.It is vital to have a constitution
which caters for the needs of all and throughout recognizes the positive
contribution of women in society, she said, informing seminar participants that
the deliberations and views would be tabled in the forthcoming session of the
National Assembly.

Monday, August 19, 2013

THE government’s
efforts over the control of the illegal supply of imported counterfeit products
from entering in the country might have hit a snag as the local market is still
dominated by substandard products, the survey can establish. The survey carried
out at Kariakoo main trading hub of the central
wholesale and retail market complex for all things in downtown Dar es Salaam
has found out that, imported goods mostly electrical and electronic
communication products of the same brand are sold at a different price rates
irrespective of their country of origin. Buyers are
openly informed and sometimes briefed of the nature of a product they
intend to buy by shopkeepers in order to make them
be assured of the manufacturing company and their countries of origin.Some interviewed shop attendants said in interview that, most of genuine products comes from European
nations as they have longer durability, with the poorest and low quality
products coming from far East countries mostly China, a factor that
drives a substantial number of buyers become perplexed and rather confused. The survey has noted that, it is a normal thing to see
that an electrical product of the same brand, size and shape such as Circuit
breakers, Earth rod and a Main switch which are used largely for wiring
purposes in residential houses are sold at different price rates.The same thing
applies in most retail shops selling imported cell phone batteries displayed in
frames made of glasses. The extensive bulk of these products put on display have
different price rates depending on their durability. This is confusing in regard to the normal
saying among the people who attributes the fact that, a product which is sold
in lower price rate is low in terms of quality, compared to those sold at a
higher price rate which buyers assumes to be of good quality. The perception
confuses the minds of many buyers and users of such products who together with
their inferiority complex towards the general understanding of the concept,
scores of them ends up buying counterfeit products without their knowledge. Johnson Msigala (36),
a resident of Mwananyamala who was cornered by this writer strolling around in a
shopping spree noted that, there is a possibility of cheating on these products
most of which are imported and are on high supply by some shop owners.A spot check reveals that, a genuine earth rod assumed to
have longer lifespan is sold at Sh. 45,000 while others with shorter span can
be fetched at between Sh. 3,500, Sh. 8,000 and Sh. 15,000 respectively depending
on their sizes and their country of origin. Shopkeepers have
revealed that, earth rods have different sizes and quality in such that the
highest paying product has a copper lining while the fake ones do not have
copper and are purely made of iron. An electrical circuit breaker which is
among important electrical equipment is sold in two different prices, the one
for China made is fetched at Sh. 18,000, whereas another one supposed to have
been imported from UK is fetched at between Sh. 80,000 and Sh. 100,000
respectively.The main switch with four way
gang is also sold at different price rates although there are only two types
available in the market. These are main switch for MCL Co. Ltd based in Dar es
Salaam which can be fetched at Sh. 45,000,A similar type of the main switch being supplied by a Dar based TAN-UK
firm is fetched at Sh. 18,000. Both of these two types of main switches are imported
from China, but the two companies are the main suppliers say one shopkeeper
Ismail Khan, a Tanzanian of Asian origin. However, he said in an exclusive
interview that, a product which sells at a lower price rate definitely has
shorter lifespan than those sold higher.James
Peter a resident of Buguruni queried and wondered if shopkeepers confess
themselves to be selling products with low quality design standards, what then
is the government doing to save consumers in the country? Commenting on the effects
of such equipment a long experienced electrical technician working as an agent for
TANESCO, a sole power utility firm in the country said that, electrical goods
with the lowest price rates do not last longer if used for wiring. Jeremiah Mukoyi (35)
revealed that, by using such equipment it will require regular replacements in
a periodical check up as most of these equipment are not sustainable enough in
terms of use for they are prone to leakage and thus causing frequent lose
connections in the whole wiring systems. The government through its organ the
Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has since early this year put down various
major strategic measures as precautions in order to curb with the increased
phenomenon that caused fear to buyers of such goods in the country. Consumers
of such products have ever since threw a blame to TBS for what it had shown as
a total failure of accountability which has ultimately resulted into giving
rise to mushrooming of counterfeit products in the country. However, TBS Spokesperson
Roida Andusamile was recently quoted by the media as saying that, despite of
much efforts spearheaded by TBS, less has been achieved to fully curb the
phenomenon by 100 percent rate simply due to the presence of numerous ways used
by unscrupulous traders as porous borders better known as “panya routes” within our country’s national frontiers. According
to the Executive Director of Tanzania Consumer Society (TCS) Bernard Kihiyo,
counterfeit products will stop flowing in the country if there would be a joint
collaboration of the stakeholders among the five East African countries. Kihiyo
is on the view of the fact that, there should be a mechanism that needs to be
established which would be able to destroy syndicate behind the importation,
distribution and sale of sub-standards goods.

Tanzania will soon
install a $Sh3.4 billion surveillance and communication equipment to boost the
country’s airspace monitoring system in the Eastern regions. Currently, the Tanzanian airspace is mainly
monitored by the multi-billion shillingradar purchased controversially from the British Aerospace Engineering
(BAE) Systems. The new surveillance and
communication equipment would boost the current radar system, which also
suffered technical problems recently.Ms Bestina Magutu, a Tanzania Civil Aviation
Authority ( TCCIA) Information Officer, said in Dar es Salaam on Friday last
week that the two equipment to be installed at the Mwalimu Julius NyerereInternational airport would cost a
whoppingSh 3.3 billion to be disbursed
during the 2013/14 financial year.She said the
surveillance equipment known as Automated Data Surveillance (ADS-B) would cost
Euro 959,490 (Sh 2.0 bn/-) and that of collecting and sending aviation reports
known as Aeronautical Message Handling System ( AMHS) would cost Euro 621,
345.2 (Sh1.2bn/-), both of which would be procured from Germany.She said the move was aimed at revamping the country’s aviation
communication and safety, and that a German firm known as Comsoft had since been
awarded a tender which will also install satellite machines.She further noted that implementation of this project was would commence
early next year.Describing the suitability of the two
devices, a TCAA technician, Engineer Valentina Kayombo said that installation
of these two machines would give air traffic controllers a quick and overall
control of the eastern horizon of the country, including the Indian Ocean.She said this was just the beginning
of a larger project which would soon cover the country’s northern, western, and
southern horizons -- depending on the availability of funds in forthcoming budget
allocations.Engineer Kayombo noted that TCAA was
determined to catch up global technological changes within the civil aviation industry,
to effectively maintain the highest standards of air traffic control.She noted that Tanzania becomes among the first African countries to have
used the newly introduced technology onceinstalled.Asked if these were new radar equipment, she said
although were similar in function, these would help the current radar to
receive more aviation information because they have greater capacity to grasp
information from afar. She made these clarifications in relation to the controversial radar system
-- the biggest in the country -- which was bought from the UK-basedBAE Systems company.Kayombo said the two devices were bought specifically to help boost the capacity
of the current radar system, whose lifespan would soon come to an end.Meanwhile,the government through
Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) will provide sponsorship for the trainingof pilots during the 2013/14 financial year.TCAA Information Officer Bestina Magutu told a news conference that the government
would ensure it gets enough and well trained indigenous pilots.She said the pilots’ training programme would be sponsored by a special
training fund -- earlier established by the TCAA in 2007 -- known as ‘Civil Aviation Contribution and Administration of Training Fund’. Various civil aviation stakeholders have
since donated some $200,000 (equivalent to Sh. 320 m/-) to run the fund, she
said, adding that more donations were expected. She said five Tanzanians had been selected
for sponsorship during this financial year to undergo a 14-mpnth training session
in South Africa – out of 272 candidates who had applied for sponsorship.TCAA is a semi-autonomous public institution responsible for overseeing the
country’s aviation industry. The authority was established in 2000 as a
corporate body and is governed by seven board members.The authority is charged with ensuring safety, security and regularity of
civil aviation in Tanzania by providing effective oversight and efficient air
navigation services while maintaining quality, protecting the environment and
safeguarding the interest of consumers and the public.

AWARD 1

I won the second prize in policy category of the African Information society Initiative ( AISI) awards 2004 which is annually organized by the United Nations- Economic Commission for Africa ( UNECA) based in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. On the first photo above standing with other awardees after the Ceremony at the National Settlers monument in Grahamstown, South Africa.This was during the 8th Highway Africa Conference.The second photo shows the cross section of Jounalists from different African countries who attended the ceremony.

AWARD 2

I also won the AISI-GKP/SDC Media Award special reporting on WSIS process and Africa, and conferred with the award in Tunis, Tunisia during WSIS summit in 2005. See the photo above.

AWARD 3

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about " Stigma denial and Discrimination" associated with HIV/AIDS. This was organized by theAssociation of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT). On the Photo above President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzania, ( then the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony.This was at Maelezo auditorium in Dar-es-Salaam September 2005.

AWARD 4

Winner on the Media Competition on writing about "Vulnerable Children" associated with HIV/AIDS This was organized by the Association of Journalists Against Aids in Tanzania ( AJAAT)

AWARD 5

Winner of the National ICT Media Award organized By SWOPNET in the Country. On the photo above Morogoro Regional Commissioner, Brigadier General ( Rt) Saidi Kalembo was the guest of honour during the award giving ceremony which was held at New Sarvoy Hotel in morogoro town.I was awarded a Mobile phone and a tape-recorder.

AWARD 6

I participated in the Media Competition in writing about VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) in Tanzania which was held between July 15th and October 30th 2008 whereby I emerged among the top five winners. The competition was under the program known as “Tanzania bila Ukwimwi inawezekana” which literally means, Tanzania without AIDS disease transmission is possible”. This is a program which was organizedby the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) under TACAIDS funding. In the photo, I am being presented with a certificate of participation by the Chairman of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) Dr. Fatma Mrisho in a colorful ceremony which was held on 22nd December 2008 at Tanzania Information Centre in Dar es Salaam.

AWARD 7

AWARD 8

AWARD 9

I was among the top 17 best selected students who excelled in their final examinations of the 2010/2011 academic year and awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s prize. I scored 4.5 GPA (First Class) in BA in Journalism. Above I am being given a certificate by the Chairman of the Open University of Tanzania Board of Senate. Standing at the centre facing camera is the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tolly Mbwette. Extreme left partly hidden is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Elifas Bisanda. This occasion took place during the convocation meeting, a day before the graduation day at the prospective permanent headquarter of the Open University of Tanzania which is currently under construction at Bungo-Kibaha in Coast region 40 kilometers away west of Dar es Salaam city.